Three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

I really enjoyed this film. I watched it on the plane, because the art and premise looked more appealing than most of the other options, and it lived up to low expectations.

The cast is a collection of flawed characters who all lean into their flaws well, and yet still manage to show a vulnerable that makes us like or relate to them. The angry mother, the tired police chief, the humiliated officer. The central message is one of community and care, but there is a darker edge to it.

The film looks good and is well paced. I didn’t have any problems with the length. The camerawork is not spectacular, but serves the plot well. This is a film where the plot is the focal point, and the script does not hinder that. Each character is well-written; perhaps slightly more exaggerated than totally realistic, but not to the point of caricature.

I like that it is different. Not part of a franchise or clearly part of an established genre. Just a good film with a lot of care put into it. Worth a watch.